⚖️ HK activists convicted over Tiananmen vigil organizing

Two prominent Hong Kong activists, Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, were found guilty of inciting subversion. This happened in Hong Kong's High Court against the former legislator and lawyer. The conviction comes under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, after they were charged in September 2021. The case highlights the shrinking of political freedoms as Beijing expands its influence in the territory. The pair now face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing pending. 😟

🇮🇳 Apple, Google set to boost India manufacturing

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the government expects Apple to increase its manufacturing in India beyond just iPhones. Furthermore, Google might shift much of its export-oriented Pixel production from China to India. A new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme worth ₹62,500 crore was notified, effective from FY27 to FY31. This move supports India's goal of deeper component-level production and domestic value addition. The country currently sees 99.2% of mobile phones used domestically manufactured within India.

🚀 Rapido's Ownly Hits 50k Daily Food Orders

Rapido's food delivery service, Ownly, has recently achieved a significant milestone in its operations. The platform operates across various cities, marking a major step in its expansion strategy. As of the latest reports, Ownly is handling 50,000 daily food delivery orders. This growth signifies increasing customer adoption and market penetration for the service. The company plans to further scale its operations and expand its service area in the coming quarters.

🌌 Galaxy spotted with three supermassive black holes

Scientists have discovered a galaxy hosting three supermassive black holes, marking a first in cosmic observation. This finding was made by astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. The discovery was published on August 12, 2026, concerning the galaxy J0148-4214, located 12.5 billion light-years away. Two of the black holes are central, while the third sits on the galaxy's outskirts, and all are actively consuming matter. This suggests the early universe could form massive black holes through mergers.

😠 Protests and Political Jitters Across India

Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in demanding an FIR be registered for a student injured by pellet fire in Delhi. This happened after the student, Sahil Lochav, complained on August 14th but police allegedly ignored his follow-ups. Separately, a CJP team in Jaipur faced attacks by alleged BJP 'goons' during a school inspection drive. Meanwhile, the Union government denied Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's US travel clearance. Another incident saw SP Avinash Pandey allegedly assaulting Samajwadi Party workers in Meerut.

🤢 Food safety woes and BJP reshuffle discussed

Hosts on South Central discussed nationwide food safety issues, joined by food expert Krish Ashok. He highlighted systemic failures and poor resources in ensuring food hygiene across India. Shivani Kava noted violations in cloud kitchens despite Zomato and Swiggy audits being in place. The discussion also covered the BJP's recent political reshuffle and key personnel movements. Aditya Menon suggested the party is struggling to connect with Gen Z effectively.

🛰️ Spacecraft Spot Hidden Solar Blast

An interplanetary spacecraft managed to capture a component of a coronal mass ejection that was previously invisible from Earth. This event was observed by scientists using data from the spacecraft's instruments. The observation occurred on a specific date, though the article does not provide the exact date. This detection offers new insights into the structure of solar eruptions. Researchers will continue to study this data to better understand space weather phenomena.

🧐 Ethanol push linked to sugar price rise? Govt denies

The government has denied that the push for ethanol is responsible for the increase in sugar prices. Officials stated that the hike is primarily due to hoarding practices and high demand during the festive season. This situation is being monitored closely by relevant agricultural bodies. The government is investigating the hoarding allegations across various states. Further updates on the price stabilization measures are expected soon. 🧐

🛶 Recycled plastic swing bridge lands in English town

A six-metre swing bridge, named Bushey Fox Bridge, has been installed at Wichelstowe in Swindon. This structure, part of a larger canal restoration, incorporates material equivalent to 140 recycled plastic bottles per square metre. The installation was officially noted on Monday, 13 July 2026, marking progress on a new 600-metre waterway stretch. The bridge allows pedestrians to cross while manually swinging open for boats, fitting into the region's urban plan. Future earthworks will proceed as weather conditions allow before the anticipated winter filling. 🛶

🏔️ Dad leaves tired 7-year-old on Mount Fuji

A Japanese father abandoned his tired seven-year-old son at about 2,490 meters on Mount Fuji. This incident took place on the Fujinomiya trail, where the boy was left alone around 7:30 am. The father, 48, proceeded to the summit with his older son instead of pausing the hike. A mountain hut worker spotted the boy and alerted the police when heavy rain started. Authorities warned the father, who later regretted the rash decision. 😟

🚨 Delhi Police to file FIR over protest pellet injuries

Delhi Police confirmed they will register an FIR regarding pellet injuries sustained by a youth during the July 20 protest. This action follows a dharna staged by Rahul Gandhi at the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi. The incident involved 19-year-old Sahil Lochab during the CJP-led protest held at Jantar Mantar. Gandhi and Lochab initially approached the Mandir Marg police station before escalating to Parliament Street. This move is in response to demands for accountability concerning the injuries.